Finally Got a Digital Camera... (large pics)

tbirde56

...a Konica Minolta DiMage Z10, a cheapie (<$200) from Walmart with 8x optical and 4x digital zoom but still trying to figure out if its going to be worthy of keeping. So far, it doubles the best scanner resolution's detail (at bottom) but I'm hoping to find I can get close in enough to get varieties, diecracks, etc, for instance, clearly. The color is off on these images taken with no special lighting of a copper-nickel Bermuda '97 $1 (wreck of the Sea Venture) that I got today too. White balance adjustment needed?
Any tips or hints appreciated!!! Anyone else ever had one of these cameras?



Scanner pic at highest resolution:

Shipcoin

Great pics, Brad! And, sure they leads me to eager that coin, even more than earlier

tbirde56

After more playing around:

Luvdawgs

Beautiful photos, Brad!

AuldFartte

Wow!!! Great coin, and real neat first pics

Looks like you're gonna have some fun with the new toy !!!

spinaker2000

nice pics.

MSD61

tbirde56

Thanks for the kind comments!
Personally I think the pics are pretty lame but being a beginner on a budget is a decent enough of an excuse. I've got a 30 day return guarantee so I'll be fiddling with it more as time allows. I'll try not to waste your time with below par results.

spinaker2000

most of the time I more problems with the lighting than the camera. Hang in there.

wybrit

Terry's right. The light is everything.

That and a good tripod or stand.

oldshep

That camera is fine - the photos are rich in detail and focus - the lighting is what will bring it all together!!!!
Shep

spoon

Yep, lighting is the tricky part.. even when you think you've gotten it down you'll still find yourself fiddling with the light before every shot. If you have Adobe Photoshop using Image > Adjust > Auto Levels or Auto Contrast can help make the color more realistic.. sometimes.

Have fun!

cosmicdebris

Nice first attempts just keep practicing. Are you using a tripod or copy stand at all?

tbirde56

Just handheld in a dark room with a floruescent desk lite about 2 feet away nearly overhead. Yes, some kind of tripod or such and 2 light sources is definitely next on the list.
All the tips are much appreciated!

rhound1977

You are off to a good start, a tripod is a must, and lighting is tricky......

ccrdragon

Brad - great shots for the first attempts. Keep practicing and you'll soon get the pix that you want.

Here's a trick that I have learned and it works nicely for me - requires either a tripod or a stand to make it work.

1. Focus the camera on the coin with the lights turned off
2. Turn on the lights and refocus the camera (if necessary)
3. Move the light around until you have the image that you want in the camera monitor
4. Take the picture

I have some shots that I took last night using this method that I will be posting tonight and tomorrow to show how effective this is for me. One other thing that works for me is to use Sylvania Daylight bulbs - they put out a better spectrum of light for getting the true colors off the coin. You can pick them up at any hardware store (I get mine at Lowes).

Askari

Nice first pics!!!